I have a question for you... last summer I bought a crown II from Broil king (and your book...). Since then I'm a big fan of barbecue cooking... But 2 months after I bought my barbecue the grill (cast iron), began to rust. I wrote to broil king and their answer was that it was normal that the protection of the cast iron grill to start coming off and that the iron began to rust... The way to handle the problem is to put cooking oil on to seal the grill and prevent the rusting... Is it wright? or should I get me some new grills?... I hope you've understood my question I'm a french speaking question so...

They are right Hugo, cast iron will rust. The way to prevent it and cure it when it does happen is to season it. Whenever you first purchase cast iron cookware, it needs to be prepared to cook with. In your situation, get a wire brush and thoroughly clean the grill grates. The next step is to very thoroughly cover the inside of the grill with some vegetable oil of your choice. Ensure that you coat the entire inside. Next, fire up your grill to medium high and lower the cover. Let the fire burn for approximately 2 hours. After 2 hours, your grill should be covered in a thick black coating on the inside. Remember that you will need to repeat this procedure at least one time per season to maintain the coating. I usually will do it 2 times, one time in the beginning of the spring and one time near winter, because I grill all year round.
Cheers.

The only thing I can think of to add to our good buddy's advice is to try using shortening in place of vegetable oil.

I've since stop using bare cast iron grates and switched to HEAVY porcelin coated cast iron to prolong the de-seasoning issue but as the surface wears and rust appears I start to apply Crisco with a heavy round daubing brush (paintbrush, use only on warm not hot grates) .

It seems not to burn off as easily. Spray oils seem to bring a whole different set of problems to the party. They just leave too much sticky residue.

Great advise guys the only thing I want to add is although I used to love to season with peanut oil, I've stopped because I know too many people have allergies to nuts or more speciffically peanuts. Its the little things that get ya. I now use crisco shortening on all my cast iron.

Chagan are you fluent in french or did you use a translator? Either way I'm impressed. Great effort to help or friend Hugo!

You know I love you guys YB I actually studied French for 3 years, but that was a long long time ago. I can speak enough to get buy, but only barely (due to non use). You're right GS, I used the translator in Office2003. I tranlated into French and then back into English several times until the English reverse translation read properly. I believe that I shall try the shortening method as well, thanks all!

No, it ain't burnt- it's barbecue

Mon Apr 12, 2004 3:59 pm

Guest

thanks everybody! a special thanks to chagan it was very nice of you to translate your answer in french for me. I really apreciate it. Hope my english is as good as your french is.

I've used nothing but Crisco shortening on my cast iron stuff and while I don't have a cast iron grate, if I did, I wouldn't replace it with anything since the work it requires is nothing to the results cast iron can give you. Keep the cast iron!

Sat Apr 24, 2004 6:51 pm

Hugo

Yes chagan I'm doing it as I'm writing to you and it works! It works very well... Many thanks...